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Premiership Player Draft - Picks Only
Comments
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I've decided to change the shape of my team from a traditional 4-4-2 to more of a 4-2-2-2 with two wide forwards. To do this I'm gonna need someone in the middle with Gary Speed to break up the play and pick a pass to let my front four do what they do best. At this stage in the draft I cant think of anyone better for this job than Danny Murphy
Murphy has played just shy of 300 premier league games starting his premiership career at Liverpool before spells at Charlton, Spurs and Fulham. Decent in the tackle and with an eye for a pass Murphy also has the pleasant habit of scoring important goals, witness his 3 goals in four seasons against United with led to 1-0 Liverpool wins and his crucial headed goal against Portsmouth last year to secure Fulham's survival.
His missus is also extremely tasty and you know, any old excuse
Team so far:
Bosnich
RB CB Mellberg Staunton
D. Murphy Speed
FWR RVP
Torres Fowler0 -
Im going to complete my central defence with this absolute rock of a defender. Signed by Graeme Souness in 1991 for £2.5m, it was one of the few good signings he made. This man went on to make 210 appearances for Liverpool and getting a few goals too. 45 England caps to his name aswell show the quality of the man.
I am happy to partner Sami Hyypia with Mark Wright
Im sure a lot of people are going to claim Liverpool bias with my 2 centre halves but i genuinely believe they are 2 of the finest defenders to ever grace the premiership. When Wright was signed, it was seen as a lot of money for a defender. But he soon won over the critics with some great performances. An absolute animal at the back and continued the tradition set by Alan Hansen of being a ball playing centre half. Injuries slightly curtailed his career but he still played until the age of 35. He was such a solid defender he even earned a recall to the England side for Euro 96, injury sadly took that away from him.
Partnering him with Sami is going to ensure that no strikers have an easy game against my team.
Given
X
Sami Hyypia
Mark Wright----X
Darren Anderton---Tugay---Rob Lee---X
Teddy Sheringham---Yakubu
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Trevor Sinclair was going to be my next pick, but that was thwarted!!
Football is all about giving yourself options, so my next pick was chosen with this in mind. I was also cognisant of the fact that at this stage of the draft there are a few key attributes that you should be hoping to get from each pick.
The first is obviously experience, and with 364 career appearances in the top flight over 15 years, including 329 starts this player has that in spades. You're hoping for a little versatility if possible, again as he's equally comfortable playing through the centre or on the left it gives me options for my next pick. You hope that they can contribute to both the defending and attacking element of the team, and as a defender his 38 league goals and 35 league assists isn't too shabby, and last but not least you want someone who can play on the big occasion. In his last game in the premier league he nonchantly scored the penalty that saved his club from relegation, whilst also condemning his previous club to that fate. The one blotch on his copybook is the fact that he never really broke into the national team making only the one appearance for the senior side. Although with Sol Campbell, Tony Adams & Martin Keown available at centre back as well as Stuart Pearce owning the left-full position it was always going to be a struggle for him.
I'll admit to some surprise that he hasn't gone earlier in the draft, as while there are undoubtably some better centre-halfs and left backs available not everyone picked to date would fit that criteria imho.
Either way I'm delighted to take David Unsworth as my next pick, a real warrior on the pitch and a rock for my back line.
Seen below scoring what was dubbed in the media as the £50M goal for Wigan v's Sheffield United
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Jerzy Dudek
Twice nominated for UEFA gk of the year while at Liverpool and made some crucial saves in the CL final against AC Milan.
..........................Dudek
Psycho Pearce Terry ...... .......
............Gilberto Silva
........................Di Matteo
............Saha ...................Sparky Hughes
........................Yeboah0 -
For my ninth round pick, I'm happy to choose Cameroonian right back Laureano Bisan Etame-Mayer
Lauren came to prominance as part of Cameroon's African Cup of Nation's winning team in 2000, in the same tournement he was awarded player of the tournement, quite unprecedented as a right back.
It was during the summer of the tournement that he secured a 7.2million deal to Arsenal
During the first season with the Gunners, Lauren struggled with injury, but by the time Arsenal had won the Double in 2001-02, Lauren was an integral part of the Arsenal defence. He played 159 times for Arsenal before his move to Portsmouth.
During his time at Arsenal he won three FA cup medals and 2 premiership medals. He got his fourth FA cup medal with Pompey last year.
I believe Lauren is also the drafts first Olympic gold medalist winning gold in Sydney.
Be warned Ronaldo, Lauren takes no prisoners.
He is a steady right back and I believe I am one DC away from possibly the best backline in the draft. Le Saux and Lauren are both rock steady full backs who rarely make a mistake and nobody can argue that McGrath isn't one of the best of all tiem.
Finally I'd like to add a picture of what this draft has been missing
Team so far
Lauren
McGrath
Le Saux
Young
Gerard
Barnes
Tevez
Drogba
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Aaron Lennon!! Quality little right mid who when he burst onto the scene with england changed games when he came on, then for a spell let his own hype get to him and kinda dropped off under ramos, was quality uner jol and has been QUALITY last few months under 'Arrry. Need a winger, and an england international is never a bad little pick!!
And he's English!! So my Team is
GK: Tim Flowers
RB:
LB: Ashley Cole
CB: Steve Bruce
CB: Gary Pallister
RM: Aaron Lennon
LM:
CM: David Batty
CM: Jamie Redknapp
ST:
ST: Darren Bent
So English! So very solid at the back! Attacking left back, ATTACKING right mid. Goal scoring goal scorer scorer of goals up front. Honestly beginning to think I cant be beaten. Lennon add's an attacking flair i needed, if i can pair him with a dangerous english left mid and a decent english right back, supplying balls for a 6 yard box poacher like bent its going to rain goals and we aint going to concede! Go Team!0 -
I need a big strong centre back and thats why i've gone for Herman Hreidarsson.
The Icelandic international has been in the premiership since the 99 season where he struggled with a shambles of a wimbledon team. It was after their relegation that new boys Ipswich decided to splash out on him and he was immense their first season defying the odds and helping them to finish 5th in the league. They were relegated the next season and although clubs were interested in him he was not interested in another relegation battle so he joined Charlton. He played over 100 games for Ipswich and over 130 for charlton in 3 seasons which showed his consitency at the top flight. He is currently playing for portsmouth.He is someone in my opinion that has had his reputation suffer a bit because of the constant relegation battles and if he had of gone to one of the title challenging or even more stable teams there is no doubt that his reputation would be better than it is today.
The reason I went for him is the fact that he is strong in both the air and on the ground and he's not afraid to get stuck in. He offers me height and dependability at the back. I felt that iIhad to get a centre back in this pick as since mayordenis put up his list and said everyone needs centre backs there has been a mad scramble to get them sooner rather than later. I would have preferred to have added an exciting winger but for the god of my team I have gone for him. He plays left back more so than centre back these days and this offers me some flexability as if there appears to be no left wingers left later on i can move Riise to midfield and work from there if needs be.0 -
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I was gonna wait for Rasta to amend his pick but I have to head to work soon and don't want to skip my go.
ROUND 9 - PICK 193
Jimmy Bullard
Bullard for me, represents the reason someone should want to play football. He shows that he loves the game and it's not all about the money. He is well known to have a good sense of humour ( the 'jocking' incident and trying to have his goal allowed when he scored after the floodlights went out in the Carling Cup.
He's a technically gifted footballer and can give the kind of delivery from corners that I have been lacking so far and which will be much appreciated by the likes of Anelka and Dublin.
He has never been seen as one of the current Premiership greats as he has been with the likes of Wigan and Fulham, for me though he represents gooc value at this stage of the draw and adds a spark of creativity to the midfield.
Quality Bullard clip:
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This has been by far my toughest pick. Three positions left to fill: CB, LB & Gk and no pick for nearly two full rounds. I've decided to go for the position with the most vacancies still to fill (i think) in other teams, and the least amount of quality players left (i'm 100% sure on this!)
Pick number 9 is John Beresford.
Most famous for his spell in the ultra-attacking Newcastle United side of the mid ninties. Solid defender, who got no help from Ginola & Co in front of him (he'll get plenty of help from Duffer), and very good going forward. He'll give my team great balance i feel, two quality wingers, two overlapping full-backs and plenty of quality in between
My team so far:
X
Jones
Henchoz
X
Beresford
McManaman--Hamann----Gravesen
Duff
Keane
Henry
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Right I'm not even this players biggest fan, but as with my picks so far I'm trying to be as unbiased as possible, I don't particularily like the guy and I know he has a reasonably bad rep in Ireland.
But Ian Harte was for many years right up there as the best left back in the prem.
Known mostly for his Free Kicks and generally delivery, the guy had a sweet left leg and was a great passer.
Reasonably pacey in his early years, and tactically aware.
whatever, it's Ian Harte.
Sol Campbell ---- Daniel Agger
Ian Harte
Shaun Wirght-Phillips - Gareth Barry ---- Kevin Nolan
Robert Pires
Jurgen Klinnsman
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I complete my back four with Alan Wright. Wright played for Blackburn but the emergence of Graeme Le Saux cut his appearances for Rovers in their championship winning season. He still received his Premier League medal before moving on to Aston Villa where he made a name for himself as a solid left back. He made 260 appearances for Aston Villa between 1995 and 2003 before moving on to Middlesborough where he did not have much success appearing only two times for them. He was 33 years old at that stage but he still plays presently with Cheltenham Town. He was a rock solid defener during his time in the Premier League.
For me this is the most competent defender left at this stage of the draft. I'm happy with my defence now.
Southall
Nilsson
Laursen
Vidic
Wright
Makelele
Townsend
Beardsley
Shearer
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"He demonstrates all the qualities of the top Argentinian defenders - strength, speed and excellent technical ability." - Sir Alex Ferguson
Throughout the draft I've endeavoured to mould a team that oozes class and style and with the left-backs being snapped up fast, I feel it's time to act so I've gone for one of the classiest left-backs available in the game and someone I feel has been surprisingly overlooked by a few people, yes I'm talking about the elegant but combative character that is...Gabriel Heinze!
Heinze may have only been at United for three seasons, one of which was marred by a long lay-off due to an injury, but there's no doubt he made a very substantial impact in his time in the Premiership. In fact, he won over United fans to such an extent that in his first season at the club he was named United's Player of the Year by the supporters, beating out Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo no less in the process.
It's not hard to see why Heinze won so many admirers as he was in many ways like several players rolled into one. When he had the ball he was cool and collected, eager to get forward and aid the attack. When he hadnt got the ball however he became a determined and ferocious competitor, harrying his opponents and chasing them down with a phenomenal workrate. Before there was Tevez it was Heinze who heard Old Trafford bellow out the chant, "Argentina! Argentina!" Here's a nice vid featuring comments from his United teammates on his qualities:
Unfortunately for Heinze his injury woes curtailed his chances of first-team action as when he returned from his long lay-off he found he had stiff competition from the great Patrice Evra who had made the left-back spot his own. This led him to demand a move away and he attempted a controversial switch to Liverpool which never came to pass as he wound up in Madrid.
As a United fan while his acrimonious departure disappointed me, I still remember fondly his displays for the club. While some might like to argue the point that Heinze hasn't played as many games as other left-backs who have been picked, I would say to that ask any neutral for their thoughts on Heinze's time in the Premiership and I wager most would end up lavishing praise on him. He might not have been around as long as others have but I believe his overall impact and the memory and legacy he left ranks up there with some of the best left-backs picked in the game.
I feel Heinze will fit in well with the rest of my team as his class, tenacity and spirit will serve me well down the left flank both offensively and defensively and he should be able to form a good understanding with my other defenders.
My team thus far:
Defoe
Bergkamp
X
Petit
Carrick
Robben
Heinze----Ferdinand----Brown
X
Van Der Sar
Pick 1: Dennis Bergkamp (FW)
Pick 2: Rio Ferdinand (CB)
Pick 3 Arjen Robben (LM/RM)
Pick 4: Manu Petit (CM)
Pick 5: Michael Carrick (CM)
Pick 6: Edwin Van Der Sar (GK)
Pick 7: Jermain Defoe (FW)
Pick 8: Wes Brown (CB/RB)
Pick 9: Gabriel Heinze (LB)0 -
I've flipped a few times on this pick but I have decided to finish off my attacking force with a striker with real pace and a good finisher. My next pick is Gabriel Agbonlahor
Always had blistering pace but could be brushed aside too easily. This season though he is much stronger and play up front as a target man, which he has had to do with Carew injured.
With Cantona and Solano sliding in passes to use his pace he will run amok up front.
Agbonlahor----Cantona
Merson----Ince----Sherwood----Solano
Silviniho----x
Keown
x
Martyn0 -
Ok I've spent the last hour thinking about this one and imo I've picked the best available player for the position.
Taking his place at right back is Warren Barton.
For me a good full back should be a solid defender while also offering something in attack and that's exactly what Warren Barton will bring to my side.
Started his career at Wimbledon and was a star, becoming a key figure in the side that avoided relegation against the odds. His displays were so good that in 1995 Newcastle forked out a British record fee for a defender of £4million. The move coincided with a call up to the England squad and for the next 18 months or so he was a key figure in the Newcastle team that played some of the best football the league has seen.
In 2001 he moved on to Derby before returning to Wimbledon briefly in 2004.
Barton gets the nod for his performaces around 1995 and 96, and having been a team mate of Ferdinand's at Newcastle, I will be hoping that they can link up and add a few goals to the side.
Team -
Seaman
Barton
Carvalho
Southgate
xxxx
Dacourt
Sinclair
Berkovic
xxxx
Collymore
Ferdinand
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Don't have much time - thought it would be another few days before my pick. Don't know if i'll be back to get my pick in before the 12hours are up. So i'm gonna make a quick pick now. To be honest, I am happy enough with my pick - i need a left back, and he has been a top performer in this position for Everton over the last few seasons. A goalscorer too, which is always nice to have at the back.
I give you my LB pick - Joleen Lescott.
A top player and a top performer over the last 2 or 3 seasons.0 -
I should pick a central midfielder but there's no one good left that i want to pick and with the amount of left and right backs going recently, i think i'll just finish off my defence.
Steve Clarke was a reliable right back, he never made any mistakes.He held down the right back spot for ages at Chelsea.
He stayed at Chelsea until 1998, making 421 appearances (the 5th highest in the club's history) and winning the club's Player of the Year award in 1994. He was a part of the Chelsea sides which won the FA Cup, League Cup and European Cup Winner's Cup in the late 1990s. The Cup Winners' Cup final was Clarke's final appearance for the club. In 2005 he was voted into Chelsea's centenary XI, occupying the right-back berth.
He was liked and respected enough to get a job in coaching at Chelsea too and he hasn't done half bad.
Couldn't find a small enough picture of him playing so had to pick one of him as a coach
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Another Maverick to complete my "Famous Four" attacking line-up. Can play anywhere across the front but will line up on the right hand side for me. Exceptional technique and an eye for a goal I give you Benito Carbone
Carbone signed for Sheffield Wednesday in 1996 and quickly established himself as a fans favourite scoring 25 goals in 96 games for the club. A contract dispute saw him leave the club and join Aston Villa for the 99-2000 season. Deployed on the wing he scored 4 goals in 25 games before moving to Bradford a year later. Often called a mercenary for his high wages at Bradford he won over the Bradford faithful with some memorable performances and some vital goals. After their relagation he moved on to Derby and Middlesborough without ever excelling.
At this stage of the draft I think Carbone is probably the best attacking option on the right hand side, if there's better I'm struggling to think of it. I think he definitely suits the team set up I'm going for and combined with RVP behind my front two he has the guile, craft and ability to unlock defences and chip in with some goals himself0 -
I complete my central defence with John Scales.
Played a key part in one of the meanest defences in the league for Roy Evan's Liverpool, after making a name at Wimbledon. He is both a great reader of the game and also comfortable on the ball. He shouldn't be too shabby alongside LeBouef at all!0 -
This is the hardest pick I’ve had to make yet. With the amount of left-backs drafted this round, I feel like I should snap up one of the few remaining on my short list or I could be buggered. However, I feel I’m long overdue drafting a combative midfielder to provide a bit more steel to the spine of my team. To that end, I pick Scott Parker.
Scott Parker has moved quite a lot for someone his age and quality. He was the linchpin of a Charlton side that was never far off European qualification season after season, which attracted Claudio Ranieri who signed him for Chelsea in 2004. His time at Chelsea was limited, because he was competing directly with Claude Makelele, who was pretty much the best in the world in that role at the time. Despite a lack of first-team opportunities, he went on to win the PFA Young Player of the Year award (mostly in recognition of his early season performances with Charlton before his January transfer). A broken metatarsal and the arrival of more central midfielders to Chelsea eventually led to his move to Newcastle, where he would go on to captain the side. In 2007 he moved from Newcastle to West Ham where he has become central to an increasingly solid Hammers defensive unit, as evidenced by a man of the match display against his former club Chelsea last Sunday.
Newcastle fans in particular will remember Parker’s display in a victory over Arsenal in 2005, where a collision with Jens Lehmann left him missing a couple of teeth. He stayed on to put in an immense shift, literally running himself into the ground until he eventually had to be carried off. This epitomises what I want to bring to my midfield.
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Seeing as Eirebear said I could go ahead I'll pick the Niemi Jasskaliened prototype, Swedish player of the year in 2000 Magnus Hedman
In a bit of a rush bit in my opinion, he was the reason Coventry managed to stay in the premiership as long as they did and was my favourite keeper when i started watching0 -
The last couple of picks were always going to be the hardest, but I think I've been lucky in that respect so far. My next pick fills in the troubled left side of my midfield, historically there haven't been a huge amount of natural wingers on the left hand side that have set the premier league alight. With the obvious exception of Giggs there just haven't been that many superstars on that side.
So what you're looking for is someone who is consistent, who provides a threat through their link-up play as well as their work rate. Looking at the players that have already been picked there are 2, and maybe a third, players that I think could do a really good job on the left side of midfield for the teams in this draft. None of them are superstars in and of themselves but each offers a genuine threat as part of a good team.
Ultimately I made my choice based on the player that has delivered the most in terms of work rate on the defensive side as well as an attacking threat. With 252 appearances to date and 76 assists in those games I think this pick really offers me an outlet down the left hand side. That he has also scored 39 goals (as of 3.10 this afternoon
) is a welcome addition to my attacking line-up.
My next pick is Steed Malbranque
Team so far:
Reina
-???
Carragher
????
Unsworth
-Beckham----Butt
Boateng
Malbranque
Cole
Heskey
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I think i might regret letting my left winger slot go til the next round but i think this guy is strong enough to cover any potential weakness on my left side.
A club record for a teenager when he signed for Chelsea in 1997. Still holds the record of the youngest player ever in the Champions League. Fought with Graeme LeSaux, an established England international for his place at left back. Gentle-Folk, im delighted to introduce this man into my starting 11.
Celestine Babayaro
A very attacking fullback who i believe can provide width to my left side for when my left winger cuts inside(Hopefully i get the player i want). Played over 200 times for Chelsea between 1997 and 2005 and but for Romans Millions he would probably still be first choice at the Bridge. An FA Cup winner in 2000.
When he realised his time was up at Chelsea he moved on to Newcastle and established himself as the first choice left back at St. James' Park.
As ive already said, i see Baba as the best attacking left back left in the draft and i think he is a great addition to my already solid team. His pace will certainly help cover any lack of pace in the centre. He will constantly bomb forward to provide an outlet on the left. I plan on having a similar right back to ensure width on my team.
Given
-???
Hyypia
Mark Wright
Babayaro
-Anderton----Rob Lee
Tugay
???
Sheringham
Yakubu
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Andy Hinchcliffe
Hinchcliffe enjoyed a very solid career at left back, contributing very well in the premiership for Everton and Sheffield Wed. Tough, pacy and with an excellent left foot well used at set pieces he was unlucky not to get more England caps imo.0 -
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QA70lOLn1hA
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